The 1st XV slipped to a ten point defeat to Cork Con this afternoon, with the Cork side taking home a bonus point win. A slow start saw Con run up a 15-0 lead, which proved too much despite a much improved second half.

In perfectly still conditions, both sides looked to keep the ball in hand in the opening stages, but Con’s greater power drew the first score, making it 3-0 with a straightforward penalty. A string of penalties against the home side meant that Con were camped on our line for the next ten minutes, kicking to the corner repeatedly. Eventually the pressure told, with a lineout maul driven over to make it 10-0 after 13 minutes. Terenure continued to try and settle into the game, but following a blockdown, Con were able to recycle close to the line and squeeze over to make it 15-0 – despite a thunderous tackle from Robert Duke.

From then, Nure grew into the game, and James Thornton was able to slot a penalty to make it 15-3, before another period of ferocious defending kept Con out on the stroke of half time. The second half started with Nure immediately in the ascendancy, forcing an early penalty which went unfortunately wide. A score for the home side looked inevitable though, and eventually it was the turn of our lineout maul, driving Michael Melia over to make it 15-8. Game on with over twenty minutes to go. However, Cork Con showed their class, recovering possession and exerting pressure to squeeze another penalty, before a harum-scarum period of kicking ended with the Con winger gathering his own hack ahead to score under the posts – 25-8.

The game was far from done though, and more good play from Nure eventually resulted in Ian Hanly diving over to make it a ten point game after Stephen O’Neill’s conversion. Again, Con powered back, with full back Darren Sweetnam finding a gap to score under the posts. There was still time for Nure to fire back up the pitch, with Kev O’Neill finding space around the side of a ruck for the game’s final score – 32-22 to the visitors.

The result is no doubt disappointing to players and supporters alike, but it must be pointed out that bar the opening 15 minutes, there was little to choose between the sides. Con’s greater power up front was largely diminished as our pack grew into the game – our first try is proof of that, and several players and replacements made striking cameos. An eighty minute performance will surely show that we are a a match for any side in this division.